GH businesses reaping the rewards of last-minute holiday shopping

“Yesterday we were slammed,” he said Friday afternoon. “Tomorrow will be busy — it will be the busiest day of the year.”

The Bookman is open until 3 p.m. today.

“We’re really happy with the response that we have had,” VanderSys said. “There’s been some book titles that have sold out. ... Christmas has been a strong time for us — the whole holiday season has.”

Other Grand Haven store owners said they have been reaping the rewards of the season.

Bob Hutchinson, owner of Buffalo Bob’s, 136 Washington Ave., said that in the past several days he’s noticed more business in and out of the store. He said people are likely realizing they are quickly running out of time to do their Christmas shopping.

“We seem to have more foot traffic the last few days,” he said Friday.

According to Hutchinson, while they are doing fair this year, the results so far are nothing like last year’s Christmas shopping season. Still, Hutchinson said he was remaining optimistic — since he has seen seasons where things have fluctuated up and down, depending on how much snow is on the ground.

“Without the snow, it has been a little slow,” he said. “The last few days, it’s picked up. We’re hanging in there.”